Republic Bank hails its first Trade Mission to Guyana as success

Republic Bank Guyana is hailing its two-day trade mission to Guyana as a big success and the company believes many business links have been formed as a result of the event.

On Monday and Tuesday, business officials from Suriname, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago were in Guyana for the trade mission. Some were seeking new products for their markets while others were checking out the local market for their products and services.

Suriname’s Anthousa Lim A Po of the Alupro-a Kiesel Company said “I think it is a very good idea because I think it gives people the opportunity to see what is possible in Guyana. We go back with much more information than we came with and in our opinion that is the most important one, because (as a business) if you want to come here, you need to know something and that was the goal we had and that goal was achieved.”

According to Republic Bank, Lim A Po was one of the 14 exhibitors and over 200 delegates who took part in the two-day trade mission at the Georgetown Marriott.

During the opening of the event, Republic Bank Guyana’s Managing Director, said Guyana is rich in possibilities in the business environment.

“Your presence is truly a heartening indication of your confidence in the Republic Bank Group and your keenness to explore Guyana’s rich possibilities…As I reflect on our gathering today and our purpose, I am reminded of the Words of outgoing United States President Barack Obama when he met with the CARICOM leaders in Jamaica in 2015. He observed that, ‘The Caribbean is a place of extraordinary beauty, people of enormous spirit, unique talents and a wonderful culture.’ It is this spirit of Regional togetherness that brings us together even now, combining our unique talents for mutual benefit”, he said.

Executive Director of Republic Bank, added that “Our vision at Republic Bank is to build successful societies. One of the means of accomplishing this is to leverage our significant customer base across the region, and put customers in touch with each other, to form stable relationships within the commercial and corporate sectors. Our goal is to provide a seamless experience throughout the jurisdictions in which we operate. We assist and support our customers, doing business in their home territories, transacting across borders, and leveraging our far-reaching expertise to bring about results.”

During the two day event, the visiting officials met and held discussions with many local officials and business executives, including Guyana’s Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, who compared the need for partnership between private and public sectors and banks to marriage vows, stating that in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, they must stick together in long-term partnership.

Sharing deep perspectives on doing business in Suriname were the Managing Director of the Bank’s Suriname subsidiary, Gloria Anthony and Managing Director/Owner of FiscLe Consultancy N.V. Anouschka Nabibaks. Anthony’s firsthand remarks drew quite a bit of interest amongst the delegates who, during networking sessions, sought her advice on numerous related topics. Nabibaks gave strong and necessary legal advice to those interested in entering the Suriname market.

Taking a Guyanese market focus were Vishnu Doerga, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce; Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, Partner at Cameron and Shepherd Attorneys; and Rakesh Latchana, Partner at Ram and Mc Rae Chartered Accountants, all of whom gave eye-opening, honest and current information to the delegates on doing business in Guyana from general, legal and accounting perspectives. Patrick Healy, CEO of VSH United, also gave the delegates some food for thought, presenting a strong case for a synchronised customs environment and initiating the discussion on the Guyana/Suriname common market.